Simplified authorization and more security for DHL Packstation

The number of Packstation users has continued to climb this year, as it did in 2011, and now almost three million customers benefit from using the 2,500 parcel machines in Germany.

Starting October 29, DHL Paket Deutschland will make the use of its Packstations even more convenient and secure. Near the end of the month, the company will be introducing a new authorization concept at all 2,500 of its parcel machines across Germany: the mTAN. The mobile Transaction Number has already proven its effectiveness in online banking. It will make the Packstation machines more user friendly and more importantly offer a higher level of security, since unauthorized third parties will no longer be able to access the system.

"By sending the access code directly to a customer's cell phone, we are not only making it much simpler for customers to pick up their items at a Packstation," said Andrej Busch, CEO of DHL Paket Deutschland. "We are also providing a level of security previously used only in the banking sector, to counter the increasing number of phishing e-mails."

Banking level security procedure

The mobile TAN has shown itself to be particularly effective for many banks. With the help of this procedure, technical systems that are externally accessible can be secured against unauthorized use by third parties. Customers at DHL will receive the mTAN together with the shipment notification, which is sent as a text message (SMS). Starting October 29, customers will need the DHL Goldcard and the mTAN to pick up their items. A personal identification number (PIN) will no longer be required. As in online banking, the mTAN at DHL is a transaction related number that is valid for a limited time period. The misuse of personal data that can occur if individuals respond to a phishing e-mail will no longer be possible for Packstation users. If a customer has several parcels to pick up at the same time, the mTAN will be valid for all of them. It is deleted when the last parcel is removed.

In order to use this heightened level of security, all Packstation customers will be required to enter their cell phone number when they register. The number of Packstation users has continued to climb this year, as it did in 2011, and now almost three million customers benefit from using the 2,500 parcel machines in Germany.